On September 25th, just days before training camp was set to open, the Bulls announced that starting small forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. would undergo back surgery, keeping him sidelined for up to eight to 10 weeks. With having made no offseason roster moves, the immediate focus shifted onto Doug McDermott and Tony Snell. Where prior the two would be fighting for backup minutes, they were suddenly thrusted into a competition for the starting job.
The Bulls are 13 games into the season, standing with a 9-4 mark, good for second in the Eastern Conference, just one game back of the Cleveland Cavaliers.